At a special transit meeting Monday, councillors approved Hamilton’s pitch to the province’s transportation agency, Metrolinx. The city will present this information to the province in the hopes of securing 100 per cent funding for the $800-million project.

City staff, including director of transit Don Hull and city manager Chris Murray, said Hamilton’s pitch to the province is about more than just solving gridlock. It’s about creating a healthier community where public transit can help combat health problems, improve the environment, grow the economy, and promote social equity.

“It’s not just about public transportation; public transportation’s just the medium to get us there,” Hull said.

But some councillors, particularly Mountain Councillor Tom Jackson, expressed resistance to both rapid transit and the idea of creating “complete streets” — the idea that pedestrians, cyclists and drivers should happily coexist. A report about instituting a bike-sharing program was referred back to staff for more study, despite the fact the city wouldn’t pay a dime for the program.

“I hope you’re not even suggesting that people who own a car should give it up for the sake of equity,” Jackson told city staff.

The lengthy report presented to councillors Monday clearly laid out both the benefits and costs of LRT. The city would see a spike of between $2.9 million and $3.5 million in the city’s transit costs, as well as additional expenses such as the loss of parking revenue and increased snow clearing and street lighting pegged at $8.7 million.

However, staff also say the city could expect three times the amount of development along an LRT corridor than by maintaining the status quo. This would generate new tax assessment valued at $22 million, while building permit fees and development charges would bring in $30 million.

There’s also the potential for 3,500 construction jobs and 300 permanent positions in Hamilton.

Throughout the debate, councillors stressed they expect Metrolinx to uphold its promise to cover 100 per cent of the capital cost of LRT. Other cities, including Toronto, have seen the province pay the entire cost of rapid transit construction.

However, Mayor Bob Bratina pointed out Mississauga did not receive 100 per cent funding from the province for its transit project — a comment that sparked an admonishment from Councillor Sam Merulla.

“It lends credence that we might be willing to give them an out, and I’m not willing to do that today,” Merulla said about the mayor’s comments.

Metrolinx is expected to announce its next round of funding in May or June.